Magnetic electrical coupling



Aug. 11, 1964 M. .1. TOLEGIAN MAGNETIC ELECTRICAL COUPLING Filed Sept.13, 1961 INVENIOR MANUEL. J To LEG-HAN M ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,144,527 MAGNETIC ELECTRICAL COUPLING Manuel J. Tolegian, 396iGlenridge Drive, Sherman Oaks, Calif. Filed Sept. 13, 1961, Ser. No.137,819 6 Claims. (13]. Nil-51.09)

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements inelectrical fittings, and more specifically to a novel magneticelectrical connector.

This invention particularly relates to an electrical connector which issuitable for remote coupling. One of the major disadvantages of existingtypes of connectors is the fact that the connectors must be aligned inadvance before they may be assembled. There are many places where it isdifiicult to accomplish this. This is particularly true in installationswherein the elements of a connector cannot be assembled by hand, butmust be manipulated with mechanical devices. An example of this isradioactive rooms and the like.

In view of the foregoing, it is the primary object of this invention toprovide an electrical connector which is of a construction wherein thetwo halves thereof are automatically alignable so that it is merelynecessary to move the two halves into engagement with each other, atwhich time the halves align with each other and provide the necessaryelectrical connection.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel electricalconnector of the type wherein the connection between the receptacle andplug of the connector is accomplished by means of magnets, and thereceptacle includes normally electrically isolated contacts, whichcontacts are recessed within the fitting of the receptacle so as toprevent accidental touching of the contacts.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an electricalconnector of the type wherein magnets are employed for connectingtogether the two halves of the connector, the connector furtherutilizing one of the magnets for moving contacts into engagement withone another 'so as to energize normally electrically isolated contactsto complete the electric circuit as the two halves of the connector aremoved together.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel magneticelectrical connector wherein the receptacle and plug of the connectorare provided with magnets, each of the magnets having a single northpole and a single south pole and the magnets being securely connected tothe fittings thereof wherein the magnets are operable to align the plugand receptacle of which the magnets are parts to assure proper alignmentof the contacts of the connector.

i A still further object of this invention is to provide anovel magneticelectrical connector having safety features incorporated therein toprevent the accidental energization of exposed contacts, the receptacleof the connector including normally electrically isolated contacts and.electrically energizedv contacts underlying the normally electricallyisolated contacts for movement'intoengagement therewith, and a magnetoperable to move the two sets of contacts into engagement with oneanotherto complete the circuits between the sets of contacts, and therebeing a magnet attractive plateremote from the contacts normally holdingthe magnet in an inoperative position until the magnet is attracted toan operable position by a like magnet in the plug half of the electricalconnector.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of-the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawing:

' In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector in accordancewith the invention, with the plug and receptacle thereof disassembled.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through theelectrical connector of FIGURE 1 and shows the specific details thereof.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view takenalong the line 33 of FIGURE 2, and shows the specific mounting of themagnet of the receptacle to permit movement thereof without rotation.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of anelectrical connector wherein the plug element is in the form of a lightbulb, the two parts of the connector being separated.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 the details of an electrical connector,generally referred to by the numeral 5, for the purpose of connectingtogether two cables. The electrical connector includes a receptacle,generally referred to by the numeral 6, and a plug, generally referredto by the numeral 7.

The receptacle 6 includes a fitting 8 which is illustrated as beingformed of an insulating material, such as plastic. The upper end of thefitting 8, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, is of a tubular construction. Adisk 9 of insulating material extends across the upper portion of thefitting 8 in recessed relation. The disk 9 carries a plurality ofcontacts 10, 11 and 12 which are disposed in insulated electricallyisolated relation. I

A contact 13 underlies the contact 10 and is intended to be engaged withthe contact 10 to electrically connect the contact 10 in an electricalcircuit of which the receptacle 6 is a part. The contact 13 is carriedby a resilient conductor 14 which extends down through the fitting 8 andhas a terminal 15 connected thereto. The terminal 15 serves to connect aconductor 16 of a cable (not shown) to the conductor 14 and the contact13. Another conductor 17 underlies the contact 12 and is resil ientlymounted for movement toward and away from the contact 12. The contact 17is carried by a resilient conductor 18 which is embedded in the fitting8 remote from the conductor 14 and which terminates in a terminal 19 towhich a conductor 20 is connected. The conductor 20 is part of the samecable as the conductor 16.

A central rod 21 extends through the center of the fitting 8 and isvertically movable. The rod 21, as is best shown in FIGURE 3, is of akey construction so that rotation thereof is prevented. The upper end ofthe rod 21 is provided with a contact 22 which underlies the contact 11and is movable into engagement therewith, as is shown in FIGURE 2 Afastener 23 connects the lower end of the rod 21 to a resilientconductor 24. The opposite end of the conductor 24 is provided with aterminal 25 to which there is connected a conductor 26. The conductor 26is part of the same cable as are the conductors 16 and 20.

' The contacts 13, 17 and 22 are normally spaced below the respectiveones of the contacts 10, 11 and 12. A magnet 27 is carried by the upperpart of the rod 21 and is vertically movable to move the rod 21 upwardlyso that the contact 22 engages the contact 11. The upward movement ofthe magnet 27 also results in the upward movement of the contacts 13 and17 to engage the contacts 10 and 12, respectively, as is shown in FIGURE2.

The magnet 27 is normally in a retracted position with the result thatthe contacts 10, 11 and 12 are not engaged by other contacts and areelectrically isolated. In order to assure the retracted position of themagnet 27 when the connector 5 is not assembled, a magnet attractiveplate 28 is suitably mounted within the fitting 8 beneath the magnet 27.In the unconnected condition of the coupling 8, the magnet 27 isattracted to the plate 28 and releases the contacts 13, 22 and 17 fromtheir respective one of the isolated contacts 10, 11 and 12.

The plug 7 includes a housing 29 in which there is positioned a'fitt'ing30 formed of electrically insulating material. A magnet 31 correspondingto the magnet 27 is positioned in the lower portion of the fitting 30. Aplurality of contacts 32, '33 and 34 open through the bottom face of themagnet 31. .Suitable conductors 35 of a cable 36 are connected to thecontacts '32, 33 and 34. I

In use, the plug 7 would normally be suspended by the cable 36. It isthen merely necessary to manipulate the receptacle 6 so that it isgenerally aligned with the plug 7. Each of the magnets 27 and 31 has aSingle north pole and a single south pole. As the magnets 27 and 31approach one another, the entire plug 29 will rotate about the axis ofthe cable 36 with the result that the plug 7 'will be properly orientedwith respect to the receptacle 6 so that the contacts 32, 33 and '34will engage the contacts 10, 11 and 12, respectively. It will thus beseen that it is merely necessary to generally align the receptacle 6 inan axial direction with respect to the plug 7, at which time the plug 7will be properly oriented with respect to the receptacle 6and the twoparts moved together by'the attractive'forces of the magnets 27 and 31.The two halves of the connector will be retained in the assembledposition of FIGURE 2 by the forces of the magnets 27 and 31.

It is to be understood that the magnets 27 and 31 are ceramic magnetsand thus are formed of 'an insulating material.

In FIGURE 4, there is illustrated a modified fornrof connector, which isgenerally referred to by the numeral 37. The connector 37 includes areceptacle 38 which is identical with the receptacle 6 with theexception that the contact 17, the conductor 18, the terminal 19 and theconductor 20 are eliminated, only two wires being necessaryfor thereceptacle 38.

The other part of the connector 37 is in the form of a lightbulb 39which includes a base 40 having a magnet 41 therein. The magnet 41 isprovided with a pair of contacts 42 and 43 which are engageablewithrespective contacts of the receptacle 38. The operation of the connector37 is identical with that of the connector 5 and need not be describedin'more detail.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that there have been devisednovel electrical connectors for accomplishing the desired end. Althoughonly two embodiments of theinvention have been illustrated, it is to 'beunderstood that other modifications may be made therein within thespirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electrical connector of the two-part type, comprising a firstconnector fitting having a tubular body portion, an outwardly directedcontact plate carried by said tubular body portion, said contact platebeing of nonconductive material and having a pluralityof electricallyisolated current carrying first contacts extending therethrough, aplurality of electrically isolated second contacts positioned inwardlyof said contact plate, each of said second contactsbeing in substantialalignment with one of said first contacts and being movable toward andaway from said contact plate into and out of engagement with itscorresponding first contact, each of. said second contacts beingadapted'to be connected to an electrical conductor, a first magnet in'said tubular body portion disposed inwardly of said plurality of saidsecond contacts and movable toward and away from said contact plate,said econd contacts being between said first magnet and said contactplate, whereby when said magnet is moved toward said contact plate, saidsecond contacts will be moved into electrical engagement with said firstcontacts to energize the same, said first magnet having its magneticaxis extending transversely of the direction of movement of said secondcontacts and said first magnet, a second connector fitting engageablewith the contact plate of said first fitting, said second connectorfitting having a plurality of exposed contacts positioned for electricalengagement with said first contacts when said fittings are engaged, asecond magnet carried by said second connector fitting, said secondmagnet having its magnetic axis disposed substantially parallel to themagnetic axis of said first magnet, and means for preventing therotation of each of said magnets relative to its respective fitting.

2. An electrical connector of the two-part type comprising, afirstconnector fitting having a tubular body portion, an outwardlydirected contact plate carried'by said tubular body portion, saidcontact plate being of non-conductive material and having a plurality ofelectrically isolated current carrying first contacts extendingtherethrough, a plurality of electrically isolated second contactspositioned inwardly of said contact plate, each of said second contactsbeing in substantial alignment with one of said first contacts and beingmovable toward and away from said contact plate into and out ofengagement with its corresponding first contact, each of said secondcontacts being adapted to be connected to an electrical conductor, afirst magnet in said tubular body portion disposed inwardly of saidplurality of said second contacts and movable toward and away from saidcontact plate, saidsecond contacts being between said magnet and saidcontactplate, whereby when said first magnet is moved toward saidcontact'plate, said second contacts will be moved into electricalengagement with said first contacts to energize the same, amagneticattractive plate positioned in said tubular body inwardly of said firstmagnet to-normally retain said first magnet in a retracted position toprevent the accidental energization of said first contacts, asecondconnector fitting .engageable with the contact plate of said firstfitting, said second connector fitting having a-pluralityof exposedcontacts positioned for electrical engagement with said first contactswhen said fittings are'engaged, and a second magnet car ried by saidsecond connector fitting.

3. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 2, wherein said contactplateis recessed Within said first connector fitting and the outer endof said second fitting is received in said recessin said first fitting.

4..An electrical connector. as set forth in claim 2, wherein each ofsaid first and second magnets has its magnetic axis extendingtransversely of the direction of movement of said second contacts andsaid first magnet, and wherein means is provided for preventing rotationof each of said magnets relative to its respective fitting.

5. An electrical connector as set .forth in claim 1, wherein the exposedcontacts of one of said fittings are disposed in a recess in said one ofsaid fittings and the portion of said other of said fittings carryingits exposed contacts is received in said recess.

6. An electrical connector as set forth in clairn 1, said first andsecond magnets being circular and of ceramic magnetic material.

France Feb. 29, 1960

1. AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR OF THE TWO-PART TYPE, COMPRISING A FIRSTCONNECTOR FITTING HAVING A TUBULAR BODY PORTION, AN OUTWARDLY DIRECTEDCONTACT PLATE CARRIED BY SAID TUBULAR BODY PORTION, SAID CONTACT PLATEBEING OF NONCONDUCTIVE MATERIAL AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICALLYISOLATED CURRENT CARRYING FIRST CONTACTS EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, APLURALITY OF ELECTRICALLY ISOLATED SECOND CONTACTS POSITIONED INWARDLYOF SAID CONTACT PLATE, EACH OF SAID SECOND CONTACTS BEING IN SUBSTANTIALALIGNMENT WITH ONE OF SAID FIRST CONTACT PLATE AND BEING MOVABLE TOWARDAND AWAY FROM SAID CONTACT PLATE INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH ITSCORRESPONDING FIRST CONTACT, EACH OF SAID SECOND CONTACTS BEING ADAPTEDTO BE CONNECTED TO AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR, A FIRST MAGNET IN SAIDTUBULAR BODY PORTION DISPOSED INWARDLY OF SAID PLURALITY OF SAID SECONDCONTACTS AND MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID CONTACT PLATE, SAIDSECOND CONTACTS BEING BETWEEN SAID FIRST MAGNET AND SAID CONTACT PLATE,WHEREBY WHEN SAID MAGNET IS MOVED TOWARD SAID CONTACT PLATE, SAID SECONDCONTACTS WILL BE MOVED INTO ELECTRICAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRSTCONTACTS TO ENERGIZE THE SAME, SAID FIRST MAGNET HAVING ITS MAGNETICAXIS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID SECONDCONTACTS AND SAID FIRST MAGNET, A SECOND CONNECTOR FITTING ENGAGEABLEWITH THE CONTACT PLATE OF SAID FIRST FITTING, SAID SECOND CONNECTORFITTING HAVING A PLURALITY OF EXPOSED CONTACTS POSITIONED FOR ELECTRICALENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST CONTACTS WHEN SAID FITTINGS ARE ENGAGED, ASECOND MAGNET CARRIED BY SAID SECOND CONNECTOR FITTING, SAID SECONDMAGNET HAVING ITS MAGNETIC AXIS DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THEMAGNETIC AXIS OF SAID FIRST MAGNET, AND MEANS FOR PREVENTING THEROTATION OF EACH OF SAID MAGNETS RELATIVE TO ITS RESPECTIVE FITTING.